Abstract

Abstract. Mariliasuchus amarali is a notosuchian crocodylomorph found in the Bauru Basin, São Paulo State, Brazil (Adamantina Formation,Turonian–Santonian). The main trait of M. amarali is its robust construction, featuring short, laterally expanded bones. The centra of the vertebrae are amphicoelous. In the ilium, the postacetabular process is ventrally inclined and exceeds the limits of the roof of the acetabulum. M. amarali has postcranial morphological characteristics that are very similar to those of Notosuchus terrestris, though it also displays traits resembling those of eusuchian crocodyliforms (Crocodyliformes, Eusuchia). The similarity of the appendicular skeleton of M. amarali with the recent forms of Eusuchia, leads us to infer that M. amarali did not have an erect or semi-erect posture, as proposed for the notosuchian mesoeucrocodylians, but a sprawling type posture and, possibly, had amphibian habits (sharing this characteristic with the extant Eusuchia).